Thousands of children to benefit from new solar powered pediatric theatre in Bungoma

The newly upgraded operating theatre is designed specifically for paediatric surgery and features child-friendly artwork, modern surgical equipment and a stand-alone solar power system aimed at addressing frequent electricity outages while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The facility is expected to improve access to both emergency and elective paediatric surgeries for hundreds of children in the region.

Speaking during the unveiling, Smile Train Senior Program Manager for East and Southern Africa, Joseph Kariuki, said the investment would help reduce complications and deaths associated with delayed surgical interventions.

“Untreated surgical conditions such as clefts deny children dignity and opportunity, while also fuelling stigma, exclusion and long-term economic loss within communities. Through sustainable partnerships, Smile Train and Kids Operating Room are strengthening public health systems by supporting hospitals like IcFEM Dreamland Mission Hospital to deliver safe, high-quality paediatric surgery where it is needed most,” said Kariuki.

Kids Operating Room Managing Director David Cunningham said the partnership continues to leverage technology to improve surgical care in underserved regions.

“We believe that establishing dedicated children’s operating theatres will contribute to a healthier and brighter future for children in under-resourced communities,” he said.

IcFEM Dreamland Mission Hospital serves more than two million people across Bungoma County and surrounding areas. The hospital has a 20-bed paediatric unit and has treated more than 740 cleft patients since 2014.

Hospital Director Ruth Nabie said the upgraded theatre would enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide comprehensive cleft and paediatric surgical care, including nutrition support and speech therapy services.

“In addition to enabling world-class surgical standards through modern equipment, the new theatre has boosted staff morale by providing uninterrupted power supply and equipment dedicated specifically to children’s surgery,” she said.

According to global health estimates, about 85 per cent of children in low- and middle-income countries will require surgical care before the age of 15. However, more than one billion children worldwide still lack access to safe, affordable and timely surgical and anaesthesia services.

The Bungoma facility becomes the third paediatric operating theatre renovated in Kenya under the Smile Train-KidsOR partnership, following similar projects at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital and Makueni County Referral Hospital.

Since 2020, Smile Train and Kids Operating Room have renovated 46 paediatric operating theatres across 28 African countries. The partnership has also collaborated with College of Surgeons of West Africa and College of Surgeons of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa to support the training of 45 paediatric surgeons across the continent.